On 28 December 2022, Switzerland pledged an additional CHF 14.5 million to the UN World Food Programme (WPF), announced the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA). Around 350 million people worldwide are currently affected by acute hunger and dependent on food aid. In response to the worsening food crisis, President of the Swiss Confederation Ignazio […]
Swiss gas consumption down nearly 30% in November
Switzerland consumed significantly less gas in November 2022, according to the Swiss Federal Office of Energy (SFOE). In November 2022, Switzerland imported 3084 giga watt hours of gas, 29% less than the monthly November average of the prior five years, reported RTS. October 2022 saw a similar year on year decline (-40%). However, despite lower […]
Financial pessimism in Switzerland worst in 6 years
A survey published on 27 December 2022 shows Swiss consumer sentiment is at its lowest since 2017. More than one in four of those surveyed expects their financial situation to deteriorate. Rises in health insurance premiums and energy costs were cited as the main reasons for financial pessimism by the 27.5% of people expecting their […]
Rules on Swiss wills to change in 2023
In Switzerland, limits are placed on what people can put into a will. Currently, a minimum of a quarter of a person’s assets must be left to a surviving spouse and at least 3/8ths to any children or their descendants. Someone in Switzerland dying without a will before 31 December 2022 will have their assets […]
What do Swiss eat on new year’s eve? Language matters.
On new year’s eve the Swiss traditionally serve an alpine version of a Chinese hot pot, which consists of meats and vegetables cooked in a large pot of hot broth. Like cheese fondu those around the table share a pot, but instead of forks armed with bread or potato, diners are equipped with small wire […]
Swiss airports almost at pre-pandemic passenger levels
Geneva and Zurich airports both have pre-Christmas passenger numbers close to pre-pandemic levels, reported RTS. On Friday 23 December 2022, more than 55,000 passengers passed through Geneva airport (Cointrin), roughly 3,000 more than the day before. According to airport management, this level is close to the numbers in 2019 before Covid-19 arrived. The highest daily […]
New platform shows Switzerland’s true electricity emissions
It is easy to think the electricity consumed in Switzerland is fairly clean. However, there are significant differences between the source of what is consumed and what is produced. To help clear up the confusion, a team of experts at the University of Geneva (UNIGE) created a tool that shows the source of electricity consumed […]
Christmas avalanche warnings in Switzerland
In parts of the Swiss mountains there is a high risk of avalanches from Friday, according to the WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF. In the highest Alpine zone stretching from Valais to Graubunden avalanche risk is currently at level 4 out of 5, according to SLF. Level 4 risk is relatively rare […]
1 in 4 changed health insurer this year
Sharply rising health insurance premiums appear to be a key driver behind 27% of people changing insurance provider in 2022, according to a survey by Comparis. Average premiums for 2023 are 6.6% higher than those for 2022. This sharp rise in premiums was cited as a key factor for changing insurer by 61% of the […]
Covid: no exodus to the countryside, says study
On 22 December 2022, Switzerland’s Federal Housing Office (FHO) published a report entitled Housing preferences in the wake of the Covid pandemic, which shows only a modest shift in preferences for living in less densely populated areas. Living and relocation behaviour in Switzerland changed only slightly during the Covid pandemic, said FHO. A rising preference […]
